In his long-awaited return from injury, Casey Mize’s first three starts of the season weren’t bad, by any stretch of the imagination. But he hadn’t exactly turned any heads.
On Sunday he turned in by far his best start of the young season, looking more like the promising first overall pick that once generated lots of buzz.
Mize threw six scoreless innings in the Tigers’ 6-1 win over the Twins Sunday, striking out four and allowing five hits and three walks.
A day after a late rally fell short, the Tigers were able to bounce back to take the three-game series from Minnesota, who is off to a 7-13 start.
Buddy Kennedy, filling in for Gio Urshela — who was placed on the 10-day IL with a hamstring injury — logged his first Tigers home run, a two-run shot in the third inning.
The Tigers head south for a three-game series at Tampa Bay, with Tarik Skubal taking the mound in Monday’s opener at 6:50 p.m.
With the NFL Draft as the backdrop, the Tigers return home Friday to take on the Royals in a three-game weekend series.